We've got Almonds!!!
#13
Almonds are one of my favorites too! We moved to North Carolina and I have a pecan tree in my yard. It is fun to gather them and use in so many ways. My grandmother had black walnuts in her yard and we helped my grand dad shell them by putting the green nuts in a burlap bag and walking on them to loosen the outer husks. Then you had to get a good strong hammer to open the shells. Lots of work but I remember the taste in brownies and cookies. Good idea/planning or you to plant the trees! Not may people even know about the taste any more.
#14
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,391
OMG:::: I love Black Walnuts. If I lived close I'd come harvest them for you. I still use them in fudge, brownies etc. They used to just grow all over the place where I grew up and folks would just go out and harvest what they wanted. I can remember sitting around shelling the meats, and eating a few along the was. Thankfully I have a place that sells them shelled.
#15
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 5,012
As for bees, yes, we do have a lot of what I believe are native bees. We didn't have many bees when we first moved on to the land, but I have been planting tons of veggies, fruits and flowers, so we've attracted many different kinds of bees. We live so far away from any other places, or neighbors, so I believe that most of the bees are natives and not European, but I'm not an expert, so who knows. There's a nest of some type of ground bees that have made their home right smack dab in the middle of my veggie garden. I just try to give them a wide berth, leave the weeds and plant around them. My husband has tried to set up hives and attract the honey bees to come live in them, but so far, no luck.
~ C
#16
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,548
Sounds like you have a lot of nice plantings! How about adding some native PawPaw trees? They like to be planted in partial shade and do better with more then I plant .They produce a banana tasting fruit for a couple of weeks in the fall after the second or third year (if you buy a decent size saplings.)
#17
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: lexington ky
Posts: 1,418
#18
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,183
For those with lots of walnuts (also works some on pecans but better on walnuts) the old timey trick was to find a good sized knothole in a piece of wood that was just slightly smaller than the average nut diameter. You position the nut in the knothole and whack it down with something, personally I like a heavy shoe! Good hand size for me, good whack sound. You can also use a hammer.
In these modern days, maybe you could drill a hole in a board (I'd say at least 1" thick) that's the right size for your crop. Different years you might need different holes.
Typically you sit down, put a bowl in your lap/between your legs and the board across your lap. Yes, shells will go flying and there will be clean up both in the bowl and the general area. Good thing to do in an old wooden rocker on the porch. Watch those shell shards, they can be sharp!
In these modern days, maybe you could drill a hole in a board (I'd say at least 1" thick) that's the right size for your crop. Different years you might need different holes.
Typically you sit down, put a bowl in your lap/between your legs and the board across your lap. Yes, shells will go flying and there will be clean up both in the bowl and the general area. Good thing to do in an old wooden rocker on the porch. Watch those shell shards, they can be sharp!
#19
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,515
My friend just sent me this recipe. Said it was delicious and only need a little slice as it was so rich. She said it was at her guild's potluck and not one crumb was left.
Almond Coffee Cake
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp real almond extract
1 package slivered almonds
Melt butter and add sugar. Beat in egg one at a time. Add flour and almond extract and mix well.
Pour batter into round baking pan. Sprinkle almonds on top of batter. Bake @350 for 35 -40 min. Let cool and wrap with foil to keep.
Almond Coffee Cake
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp real almond extract
1 package slivered almonds
Melt butter and add sugar. Beat in egg one at a time. Add flour and almond extract and mix well.
Pour batter into round baking pan. Sprinkle almonds on top of batter. Bake @350 for 35 -40 min. Let cool and wrap with foil to keep.
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JudyTheSewer
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